Folding mirror stereoscope



July 28, 1931.

L. T. ELIEL FOLDING manon s'rEREoscorE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 28, 1931'.L. T. ELIEL FOLDING manon sTEaEorscorE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 l med may e,1925 f i Patented July 28, 1931 UNITED STATES 1I ATENT OFFICE LEON T.ELIEL,v O FPASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO ELIZABETH S. EIlIEL FOLDINGMIRROR s'rE-nEoscoPE Application led May 6;

My invention relates to stereoscopes, and

more particularly to afolding mirror stereo-` scope.l

The use of a mirror stereoscope is well i6 known to those versed in theart, the present laboratory instrumentbeing generally employed forexamining topographical photographs for determining contours, makingmaps, and other adaptations involving min- 10 ute inspection ofphotographs and illusion of relief.

Such instruments heretofore developed have been expensive, heavy andbulky, and

- could be conveniently used only in a'laboratory. E

These instruments are also subject to injury and are Ilikel/yvto bethrown out of adjustment when carried.

Great advantages may sometimes be gained .29 by using a stereoscope inthe field 'or onthe location of the photographed territory. It is alsooften desirableto carry the stereoscope for demonstrating its 'utilityin colleges, schools and engineering camps as well as in commercialtopographical laboratories and engineerin oiiices.

It logically ollows that:

An object of the resent invention is to provide a folding mirrorstereos'eope which is light andl compact, rendering it readilyportable.. J n

A further object is to provide such a stereoscope in knock down orfoldable form, such that it may be readily folded and packed in a smallcase for being carried or shipped.

A further; object is to provide in such a stereoscope'fmeans foradjusting the mirrors to accommodate pupillary separation in the 40 eyesof different individuals.

Another object is to provide in combination with a folding mirrorstereoscope of the type described, a portable hairline suspensionequipment, the parallel lines of which are adapted to be interposedbetween the mirrors and the photographs under examination to facilitatedetermination of contours and elevations.

Other objects and advantages will be made manifest in the followingspecification of an 1925. serial' No. 28,353.

embodiment of he invention inner-need in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a vertical. front view of the stereoscope set up in vpositionfor use with the hair line suspension attachment alsol in place.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the stereoscope with the hair line suspensionomitted.

Fig. 3 is a front view ofthe stereoscope folded. a

Fig; 4 is a fragmentary view partly in section of the stereoscope takenfrom the rearl and showing the focusing arrangement,

Fig. -5 is a vertical fragmentary sectionthrough the center of thestereoscope, being taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. .6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the small mirrors folded aswhen not in use.

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the hair line suspension device.

Thel stereoscope as herein described comprises a supporting member 1which may be formed of cast aluminum, or any `other light and durablematerial. This 'supporting member is a substantially iiat plate roughlydescribing a T, the vertical member 2 of which is intended to afford apart of a base upon which the stereoscope may stand'. At each side ofthemember 2 is a triangular Y wing 3 which'is pivotally en aged to the base and is adapted to be swung orwardly of the member 2 andperpendicular thereto so that shown in Fig. 1.

The preferred method of pivotally engaging the wings?) to the verticalmember 2 consists in forming the contiguous edges of the related memberswith alternating ears 4 land recesses 5 adapted to properly register,

Aa three-sided standard is provided, such as A the plate 9 beingprovided with a threadedy lug 10 through which an adjusting screw 11 `isadapted to operate. The adjusting screw is located in a rectangularrecess 14 in the vertical member 2, and its ends are rotatably retainedin a pair of horizontal thrust bearings 15 and 16. The screw is providedwith an enlarged annular knurled portion 17 by which it may be turned.It will thus be seen that the plate 9 may be moved up or down by arotation of the screw 11.

A pair of vertical guide their ends in thrust bearings 15 and 16 engagein sliding relationship a pair of collars 13 which are secured upon theback of plate 9, providing means for accurately retaining the mirrorsupport in position when it is raised or lowered by the screw 11.

Upon the forward face ofthe plate 9 is hingedly mounted asupportingblock 18 presenting-an inverted- V-shaped edge 19 which isintended to support the small mirror plates 20 and`21 in properposition. The block is formed with a substantial thickness at the-V-shaped end and is reduced adjacent its hinged connection 22 with asmall block 23, which is firmly secured to the plate 9.

The purpose of having the block 18 hinged at 22'is to afford means forfolding the block down out of the way, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, whenthe streoscope is to be packed away.

The small mirror plates 20 and 21 are hingedthe length of theircontiguous edges as at 24 in a manner similar to the hinging/arrangement of the base member. Thismanner of engaging theV mirrorplates will render it possible for them to lie flat when folded and toreadily accommodate themselves to an angular disposition when elevated.They are carried upon a common T-shaped, hinge member 27, one end ofwhich is located at the upper end of the plate 9 and hinged thereto topermit movement of the hinge member 27 in a vertical plane whereby themirror plates 20 yand 21 are hinged relative to the supportlng member 1.A pair of mirrors 28 and 29 are secured upon the upper faces of theplates 45 2O and by any suitable means,such as by small clips 3Qretained byscrews 31, an edgey ofeach clip extending over the edge ofthe mirror.

A pair of large mirror plates 34 and 35 are disposed at the outer endsof the supporting member cross piece, being hinged in notches formedupward from the lower edge thereof. This hinge attachment is preferablyformed by means similar to those employed between the' win 3 and themember 2.

The isposition of the mirror plates`34 and 35 is diagonal with referenceto the horizontal extension of the cross member so that when the platesare elevated into position for u se4 as shownin Fig. 1, they will extendat rlght angles to the member 1 and theirplanes will be parallel to theplanes of their corresponding small mirrors.

Each large mirror plate is provided on its. upper face with a smallbutton 36 which is pictures.

adapted to be engaged by a pivoted retaining clip- '37 secured to themember 1. The rev taining clip comprises a small base 38 which may bescrewed or otherwise fastened to the member 1, and a longitudinalextension 39 which isprovided at its outer end with an' angular lug 40formed with ears which are .a i ntended to be slipped over the neckofthe bars 12 having Q,

button 36 and be retained by the head of the button. When the retainingclips 37 are folded down out of the way the lugs 40 may be received inrecesses 41 provided in the face of the supporting member 1. To theunder side of each of the large mirror plates 34 and 35 is secured amirror 44 retained in position by any suitable means .such as the clips43 herein illustrated, which are secured by screws 42 threaded into themirror plate. Recesses 45 are `provided in the edges 46 of the member 1for the reception of Aclips 43 when they large mirrors are folded inposition for packing.

The Ause of the stereoscope just described is l fas follows:Referring-to Fig. .3, the instrument is seen as when foldedforpacking'or transportation. To set the device up for use the wings 3should be swung forwardly uponl the pins 7 to the position shown in Fig.1; the .small mirror plates swungforwardly and upwardly on the hinge 27and the supporting block 18 swung upwardly on the hinge- 22, the smallmirror plates being then presented by the bloc 18. The weight of themirror lates wil retain the block in upright position and the weight ofeach individual mirror plate will cause them to pivot upon the hinge.extension 24 and to assume a relatively angular position with themirrors 28 'and 29 dlsposed at planes substantially lowered upon theinvted V-shaped surface perpendicular relative one to the other. The

retainin clip extensions 39 should be swung outwardly from'their foldedposition and the large mirror plates 34 and 35 elevated upon 4theirpivotal connection with the member 1 so that the retaining clip lugs 40may be caused to engage the buttons 36. A slight -frictionalrelationbetween the retaining clips and the buttons causes them to be engagedsecurely, as well as the normal pressure exerted by the weight of themirror plates. The instrument may then be focused by rotating the screw11 to raise or lower the plate 9 upon which is mounted lthe-smallmirrors.

It should be apparent that this movement so'y los

varies the vertical relationship between the complementary mirrors, theeyes of the observer, andthe pictures thereby making an easy adjustmentby which differences in the pupillary separation of the observers eyesmay be compensated for without moving the An operation the reverseI ofthat just described would obviously fold the stereoscope into apractically flat package whichV may be readily enclosed in a case.

i' The hair line suspension arrangement adapted to be used inconjunction with the folded mirror stereoscope comprises a pair oflongitudinal bars 50 and 51 lwhich areV provided at their ends with legs52 and 53 hinged at their upper ends by hinges 54 to the under sides ofthe longitudinal bars so that they may be folded against the bars whenit is desired to pack the device. Each leg is provided on its Outer edgenear the upper end with a spring clip 55, the lower end of which isfirmly secured to the leg and the upper end of which describes an arc,the inner side of the arcuate portion being adapted to engage the end ofthe longitudinal bar and to yieldably retain the bar and leg in securerelationship. The longitudinal bars 50 and 51 are related by a centraltie 56 which is pivotally securedl as by rivets or screws 57 and'58 tothe longitudinal bars. Small holes 59 are drilled into the longitudinalbars 50 and 51 for the purpose of receiving parallel hair lines 60 whichare suspended between the bars. These hair lines may be retained in theholes provided by small wooden plugs 61.

This arrangement permits the hair line suspension device to be set up incombination with the-stereoscope asshown in Fig. 1, one of thelongitudinal bars being disposed adjacent the vertical member 2 abovethe upper ends of the wings 8. If it is desired to vary the position ofthe hair lines 60 with relation.

to the longitudinal disposition of the stereoscope or photographs underobservation the second, or outward, longitudinal bar may be shifted uponthe pivots 57 and 58 to cause the cross hairs 60 to traverse 'the imagesunder observation in a diagonal line; the construction providedaffording parallelity of the hair lines GO. The use of the hair linearrangement. is fully set forth in my co-pending application for Methodof and apparatus for making maps, filed May 4, 1925, Serial No. 27,712.The operation of the present device diifers only in that insteadofactually changing the separation between the hairs this instrumentaccomplishes the same end by use of the focusing screw 11. By thusraising or lowering the small mirrors the .parallax between the elevatedhair lines 60 causes an apparent difference in the separation as thehairs are seen projected upon 'thepictures below. This causes-them toappear in contact with the ground at different elevations as the screw11 is turned.

It is further possible by use of this adjusting screw to determine onthe photograph the imaged points intersected by any vertical plane,regardless of differences in elevation of the points. This isaccomplished by turning the screw 11 and plotting continuously theapparent points of contact. Heretofore ing: a supporting member, saidmember consisting of a verticalportion and an upper transverse portion;wings pivotally extending from said vertical portion adapted to providea base; a pair of small mirror plates pivotally secured relative to theupper transverse portion and hingedly related one to the other; andapair of large mirror plates pivotally mounted at the outer ends of saidtransverse portion, they parts being so arranged that the stereoscopemay be folded into a compact package.

2. A folding mirror stereoscope comprising a supporting member, saidImember consisting of a vertical portion and an upper transverseportion; wings pivotall extending from said vertical portion a apted toprovide a` base; a pair of small mirror plates pivotally securedrelative to the upper transverse portion and hingedly `related one tothe other; a block secured to said supporting member and adapted tosustain said small mirror plates in extended position; and a pair oflarge mirror plates ivotally mounted at the outer ends of sai transverseportion, the parts being so arranged that the st'ereoscope may be foldedinto a compact package.

3. A folding lmirror stereoscope comprisi-ng: a supporting member, saidmember consisting of a vertical portion and an upper transverse portionwings pivotally extending from said base portion adapted to provide abase; a pair of small mirror plates pivotally secured relative to theupper transverse portion and hingedly related one to the other; a blocksecured to said supporting member and adapted to sustain said smallmirror plates in extended position; ak

pair of large mirror plates pivotally mounted at the outer ends of saldtransverse portion; and means for securing said large mirror plates inextended position, the parts be! ing so arranged that the stereoscopemay be folded into a compact package.

4. A folding mirror stereoscope comprising: a supporting member, saidmember consisting of a vertical portion and anupper transverse portion;wings pivotally extending from said vertical portion adapted to providea base; a pair of small mirror plates pivotally secured relative to theupper transverse portion and hingedly related one toy the other; a pairof large mirror plates pivotally mounted at the outer ends of saidtransverse portion; small mirrors on said into a compact package.

5. A folding mirror stereoscope comprising: a supporting member, saidmember consisting of a vertical portion and an upper transverse portion;wings pivotally extending from said base portion adapted to provide abase; a pair of small mirror plates pivotally secured to the uppertransverse portion and hingedly related one to the other; a blockpivotally secured relative to said supporting member and adapted tosustain said Amirror plates in extended position at an angle one to theother; and a pair of large mirror plates pivotally mounted at the outerends of said transverse portion, the parts being so arranged that thestereoscope may be folded into a compact package.

6. A folding mirror stereoscope comprising: a supporting member, saidmember consisting of a base portion and an upper transverse portion; apair of small mirror plates pivotally secured relative to the uppertransverse portion and hingedly related one to the other; a pair oflarge mirror plates pivotally mounted at the outer ends of saidtransverse portion; small mirrors on said small mirror plates; largemirrors on said large mirror plates; and means for adjusting certain ofsaid mirrors relative to the other of said mirrors, the parts being soarranged that the stereoscope may be folded into a compact package.

7. A folding mirror stereoscope comprising: 'a supporting member, saidmember consisting of a base portion and an upper transverse portion; apair of small mirror plates pivotally secured relative to the uppertransverse portion and hingedly related one to the other; a pair oflarge mirror plates pivotally mounted at the outer ends of saidVtransverse portion; small mirrors on said small mirror plates; largemirrors on said large mirror plates; and means adapted to Araise andlower said small mirrors relative ing: a support comprising asubstantially iat plate; primary and secondaryl pairs of mirrors; andmeans for attaching said mirrors to said support to permit movementthereof from an v extended position in which said Leraars mirrors are instereoscopicrelationship into a retracted position in'which said mlrrorslie close to said support in compact relationship therewith. v

10. A folding mirror stereoscope comprising: a plane support; two pairsof mirrors;

and means for operatively connecting said mirrors to said supporttopermit said mirrors to fold from stereoscopic relationship into planesparallel to the plane of said support.

11. A folding mirror stereoscope comprising: a support; and two pairs ofmirrors hinged to said support in a manner to fold from stereoscopicrelationship into parallel planes.

12. A folding mirror stereoscope comprising: a support; and two pairs ofmirrors hinged to said support in a manner to fold from stereoscopicrelationship into planes parallel to the plane of said support.

13. In a folding stereoscope, the combination of: a pair of mirrors; asupport; means for hinging said mirrors relative to each otherand'relative to said support; and another pair of mirrors mounted instereoscopic relationship with said first pair of mirrors when saidfirst pair of mirrors is in extended position.

14. in a folding stereoscope, the combination of: a pair of mirrors; asupport; hinge means on'` which said mirrors pivot to move into a givenangular relationship with each other; auxiliary hinge means operatingbetween said mirrors and said support to permit compact folding of saidmirrors; and another pair of mirrors mounted in stereoscopicrelationship with said rst pair of mirrors when said first pair ofmirrors is in extended position.

15.A A folding mirror stereoscope compris? formed therein; a primarypair of mirrors;

`hinge means for retaining said mirrors in said notches when inretracted position, said hinge 'means permitting movement of saidmirrors into retracted position; and a secondary pair of mirrors mountedto extend in stereoscopic relationship with said mirrors of said primarypair when said mirrors of said primary pair are in advanced position.

16. A folding mirror stereoscope comprising: a support; a primary pairof mirrors swmgably mounted'on said support to move from retractedposition into an advanced position; a secondary pair of .mirrors mountedon said support to move from retracted position into'an advancedposition wherein they are in stereoscopic relationship with the mirrorsof said primaryv pair; and stop means for retaining the mirrors of saidprimaryand secondary pairs in advanced position.

1'?. ,A folding mirror stereoscope com rising: a primary pair ofmirrors; a secon ary l memb pair of mirrors disposed at a givenanglerelative to each other; and means for bodily moving said secondary pairof mirrors relative to said primary pair of mirrors without disturbingthe angular relationship between the mirrors of said secondary pair.

18. Alcombination as defined in claim 17 including a hair-line Supportfor .mounting a pair of hair l lines between said mirrors and the objectbeing viewed.

19. In a folding stereoscope, the combination of: a plate; a hingemember pivoted to said plate on a given axis; a pair of mirrors pivotedto said hinge member onan axis perpendicular to said given axis; andmeans for determining the relative position of said mir rors on .saidhinge member.

20. In a folding stereoscope, the combination of: a plate; a hingemember pivoted to said plate on a given axis; a pair of mirrors pivotedto said hinge member on an axis perpendicular to said given axis; andmeans for determining both the position of saidhinge member relative tosaid plate and the angular position of said mirrors relative to saidhinge 21. In a folding stereoscope, the combination of.: a plate; ahinge member pivoted to said plate on a given axis; a pair of mirrorplates pivoted to said hinge member in a manner to lcontact said plateto which said hinge member is hinged; and means engaging said mirrorplates to determine their angular relationship.

22. A combination as defined' in claim 21 in which said means comprisesa supporting block having a V-shaped edge engaged by said mirror plates.

23. A combination as defined in claim 21 in which said means comprises asupporting block hinged relative to said plate and hav ing a V-shapededge engaged by Said mirroi` plates.- y

24.-. In a folding stereoscope, the combination of; a support; a plate;adjustable means for mounting @aid plate ladjacent said support; a pairof mirrors foldably7 carried b said plate; and another pair of mirrorsfol ably carried by said support and extensible into stereoscopicrelationship with said first named pair of mirrors.

25. A foldin mirror stereoscope comprising: a support oldable from asupporting position into a folded position in which said support liessubstantially in'a sin le plane; two pairs of mirrors; and means ormounting said pairs of mirrors relative to said .Support in swingingrelationship therewith whereby the mirrors of one pair Imove intostereoscopic relationship with the mirrors of the other pair, said meanspermitting the folding of all of said mirrors in planes parallelto theplane of said support when in folded position.

26. A folding mirror stereoscope compris-v retracted position in whichsaid mirrors of said secondary pair lie parallel to the mirrors of saidprimary pair when in retracted position in said notches.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 30th day of April, 1925.

. LEON T. ELIEL.

` iis :susY

